Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Bengals take Jeremy Hill, Will Clarke

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals have chosen defensive end Will Clark from West Virginia with their third-round pick, restocking a line that has lost end Michael Johnson to free agency.

The Bengals have taken two defensive players and a running back in the first three rounds.

They chose Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard with the 24th overall pick on Thursday night. LSU’s Jeremy Hill went to Cincinnati with the 55th overall pick, the second year in a row that the Bengals took a running back in the second round. He’ll team with Giovani Bernard in the backfield.

PREVIOUS STORY:

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals took running back Jeremy Hill from LSU in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night, showing their commitment to run the ball under new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.

Cincinnati returns power running back BenJarvis Green-Ellis and Giovani Bernard, who was taken in the second round last season and can catch passes. Hill is more of a power runner but can catch the ball.

There was no running back taken in the first round. Hill, the 55th overall pick, was the second one chosen overall. The Bengals intend to take some of the pressure off quarterback Andy Dalton by emphasizing the run more this season.

Cincinnati split its first two picks between defense and offense.

The Bengals chose cornerback Darqueze Dennard with the 24th overall pick on Thursday night, adding some youth to the oldest position in the team. Dennard won the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation’s top defensive back.

Cincinnati also was looking to add a defensive lineman. End Michael Johnson left as a free agent and tackle Geno Atkins is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery. The defense ranked third overall last season, using a rotation on the line that kept everyone fresh.